Arreva Blog

Snapping for Success: Reaching Younger Generations of Volunteers and Donors on Snapchat

As the Social Media Manager, my job is not only to curate and produce social content for Arreva, but also stay updated on the latest trends in nonprofit social media marketing. After hosting a few webinars concerning reaching out to younger generations of potential volunteers and donors, our Digital Marketing Manager and I realized that there was a need for more resources about Snapchat for nonprofits.

Snapchat is a mobile app that allows its users to share photos and videos that will disappear after 10 seconds by default. It is extremely popular among Millennials and Generation Z, making it the perfect place for organizations to reach younger donors. We couldn't find any guides to Snapchat for nonprofits that covered the most recent updates to the app, so we decided to publish one ourselves!

Capture more potential donors and volunteers by using links in your snaps.

After taking a picture or video in the app, icons will appear on the right side of the screen that allow you to edit the image. Press the paperclip icon to be able to paste a link to a donation or volunteer signup page.

Design custom lenses and filters to make your pictures pop.

Filters and lenses are layered over your photos/videos to add decoration and context. For example, if you have a big event going on, a filter with the title and location of the event can be created for the occasion. Go to the settings menu by clicking on the gear icon in your profile, then press "Filters & Lenses" to get started.

Make consistent updates to stay relevant and reach more people.

Since nothing is permanent on Snapchat, it's important to be consistent. Otherwise, potential donors' interest in your organization will be as fleeting as a Snapchat photo. Try posting at least once per day.

Write posts that are actionable.

Don't just tell your Snapchat followers what your nonprofit is doing; give them something to do about it. Using calls-to-action such as "Learn More," "Sign Up Now," or "Donate Today" along with a link to the appropriate web page will help.

Use your Stories to say thank you.

Snapchat Stories stay on your profile for 24 hours. They are a great way to post a short thank you to your donors or give an inside look into the daily impact of your organization.

Want more tips like this, or just need a refresher on Snapchat basics? Download the full eBook here:

Interested in the webinars about reaching younger generations of potential volunteers and donors? Watch them here: